The best Reckless location in my opinion. The prices are fair and they have a huge selection of vinyl and CD's. They also have a great selection of $1 records and CD's. The employees are very friendly and helpful. I recommend this store to anyone who loves music in the Belmont area. read more

When it comes to music shopping, I am in a weird place. I am too cheap for the Mega™ Music stores. I am too unhip for vinyl. I am too old for mp3whatever they're called. Whatever am I to do? Shop the used bins at Reckless, that's what. And that's what I do. Where can I buy Fantasia, the Indigo Girls, (the soundtrack to) In the Heights, Sarah Vaughan & (Robin) Thicke all for less than $20? No, I am asking. You can't do it at Reckless - but you can come pretty d@mn close. Sorta. And, in these hard economic times, that's what I am talkin' 'bout! For these Shoe Carnival savings, I'll ignore the nasty dude sneezing over the vinyl, my need to Purell myself after handling the CD covers and the lice jumping from male emo store clerk to unwashed scowling hipster patron to the Yeti dancing to electronica at the back of the store. I am serious about savings. Perhaps my opinion and experiences would be different if I had run into some of the bad attitudes other Yelpers have suffered. A couple of things about that. 1.) I only deal with the female clerks. In my experience, they're really helpful, nice & knowledgeable. Three different female clerks have helped me look for music (in the stacks!) or order it from another store. None have derided me for my tastes. 2.) I don't play that emo attitude game. As per my Santullo's review, I am batshit crazy and quick to go circus freak insane on someone with unwarranted attitude. In other nomenclature: I am NOT the one.* *This strategy is also applicable at The Wiener's Circle. read more

Sometimes it's just easier to be part of the solution than part of the problem. It doesn't take someone remotely connected to the news of the day to know CD sales are plummeting due to digital music (both legal and illegal). I am part of the problem because I'm addicted to Rhapsody. And yet, it almost pains me to stay away from record stores to occasionally buy a CD (aka be part of the solution). And today on Record Store Day only one possible store to show love to came to mind - Reckless Records on Broadway. It's almost muscle memory to go to this location from back in the day (before the MP3 revolution I went here about once a week). But it's more than just that which has me going back to this location over the others. First of all, it's in Lakeview which means fewer hipsters (at least on the customer side of the counter). Secondly, the used selection reflects the fact that there are fewer hipsters trading in music and hence a more diverse selection than at certain other nameless stores. I have walked out of here with some truly embarassing used CDs (with minimal reaction from the employees) - just yesterday the Goo Goo Dolls first CD caught my eye but I didn't purchase it - before and loved their prices (usually under $8 pre-tax). They even carry (and feature out in the open for the world to see) some CDs in new release that would make some of the Wicker Park customer's heads explode. I never walk in expecting bargains on new releases though (honestly, they're cheaper at some chain stores since Reckless rarely discounts new stuff). Still I always find a way to walk out with something (most of the time completely unplanned). However, the best part of this Reckless is it really is the center of the music universe for this part of town. There will always be flyers, buttons, 'zines, free papers (this used to be one of the few reliable places in Lakeview to pick up The Reader about 10 years ago), posters, and all other sorts of promotional bric-a-brac to rummage through. So it's virtually impossible to walk out empty handed whether you buy CDs (or DVDs or LPs) or not. And, therefore, it will never feel like a pointless trip. Not that a trip to a good brick-and-mortar record store is ever pointless. read more

This Reckless has been ok in the past, in my experiences, but the last time I went in, it reminded me of why I hate record store employees. You think you're so much better than us, but get this: you're a glorified CASHIER. Here's what happened: I go in, with a CD in mind. I couldn't find it on the shelves in either rock/pop or experimental, so I go up to the guy at the counter. "I'm looking for this CD" (i describe it) "I think it's spelled P-I-O-U..." "I know how it's spelled." He looks at me with contempt, like I'm interrupting his oh-so-busy job. He looks back down, getting back to whatever he was doing. A long pause ensues. "Well...uh, do you know where it is?" "It's on _the wall_." Super condescending, he doesn't even look up, just points. Screw you, Reckless. This is why I buy stuff online. read more

The used bins are okay. You can usually find something you never knew you wanted. Then again you can do that at the Wicker Park location where the staff is polite. Guess what? If I want to buy an Assuck record, I'm going to and I don't expect any wisecracks. You're going to put it in a bag and smile. Why? Because you work in a fucking record store and you're 33 years old. When you get a real job we can talk about why I actually purchased the "Misery Index" LP. read more

Want to know what kills me? When people say they don't like the indie stores because the employees are mean. Mean? Don't you know that part of the shopping thrill is interaction? Winking at the fella behind the counter and watching him fall all over himself stuttering? Yeesh. Smile a lot and you'll find the total experience more rewarding. Where the heck else are you going to find entertainment like this? Oh riiiiiight, the racks of stuff for sale... read more

As a 35 year old, I remember first hand when back in the 1990s, we had a lot more choices for good record stores with huge selections that existed in the real world. And back then, Reckless was good, but it really didn't stand out as strongly compared to the competition as people like to think it did now when they reflect back on those old days. However, in today's world, I have to say that I think it now is pretty much among the best stores in Chicago. This is in part because most of the worthy competition has died, but also because Reckless has risen to that level in the last 5-7 years. At the Broadway location, one finds a nice selection, nice prices, and fair and accurate vinyl ratings. I never understand why people complain about this location. Yes, it is true this one is a bit less "filled to the brim with greatness" than the Wicker Park location in re: rock and pop, but it still is really nice these days. And a lot better than some of the other stores in Chicago proper. In addition, they also often have as good a jazz record selection at this specific location as pretty much any other store in the city (except maybe Jazz Record Mart, which is damn hard to do). They also usually have a great selection of Classical records, too, and, along with Dave's, now stand as pretty much one of the two best classical record sellers in Chicago. (Minus the guys who run a couple of the booths at the Chicagoland Record Collector's show, of course.) read more

I worked at a place similar to this long enough to know this: THE EMPLOYEES DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'RE BUYING. And if you care that much about a 33-year-old bearded hipster's opinion of your purchase, you should be spending your money on therapy. That said, Reckless: ugh. I'm mad at you. You never have what I'm looking for, because you seem to specialize in bearded 33-year-old hipster music, at least in the Rock/Pop CD section. I wish your electronic music section was much bigger and included more than just every electronic CD I owned when I was 19. And I have a sneaking suspicion that you let your employees get first dibs on all the cool new stuff that comes in, or your selling it all online, especially the records, because what ends up on the shelf in the vinyl department is kind of run-of-the-mill. And why can't you alphabetize anything? Oh, sure, you can alphabetize PA-PO, but other than that, I have to thumb through 80 CD sleeves to find out if you have PIL. Okay, you're not all that bad, Reckless. Your staff is friendly and non-judgemental (or maybe I just don't have a complex), and I love, LOVE the employee-penned album descriptions on almost EVERY record... even the ones you'd judge me if I bought. read more

My home away from home, I've spent way too much time and money here. Is it just me or being surrounded by music and film a little euphoric, like a kid in a candy store or a fat man at an all you can eat buffet. Like a hippie with the munchies in a full pantry or a dominatrix with unlimited spending in a whip store (yeah... I don't know how that popped into my head either). Vinyl, cd's, dvd's oh my. I sometimes feel like I am one of those claw machines shifting back and forth through all the genres till I find my prize. My favorite is when I find things like B-sides & rarities, live albums, and imports. Maybe it's strange but maybe not, I've never had a single problem with any of the disc's or records I've purchased here (which I assume means that they really check the mdse before they resell). The employee's are cool and but sometimes they aren't. One guy got bent when I said "hey employee, do you have The Decemberists new album"... he said "hey customer, get your drunk indie lovin' ass out we are closed".... Fine, that wasn't what he said but he did kick me out and I was a little buzzed, ok I was drunk. Felt like a little High Fidelity. read more

When it comes to music, I'm pretty much obsessed with it. As a former performing singer, I can't get enough of it...of any genre. My generation is obsessed with digital downloads, and I am too, but there's something more about actually owning the real thing that gets me. Yes, I'm a collector of music. As a former radio DJ from a handful of years ago too, I learned to appreciate vinyl more than I had say, 10 years ago. Well, Reckless has a huge vinyl collection of pretty much any genre you can think of. Rock, Jazz, Blues, R&B, Soul, Metal, Classical, World, Soundtracks, Electronica, and even Krautrock. Funny, it seems I'm usually the only one browsing the Krautrock. if only more people knew what Krautrock was.... If you think this place is just vinyl though, you're dead wrong. There's probably just as many CDs as vinyl, if not more, of every genre as well. Need more? How about movies, TV shows, and concerts on DVD and a huge selection? VHS? LaserDisc? Cassettes? I've seen 8 tracks...they even have a small selection of video games (i.e. Playstation, XBox). Honestly, you could spend hours in this place and you can always find stuff. I love the cheaps bin of CDs and DVDs. Sometimes there's not much in the CDs, but sometimes there are some actually really good albums selling for 99 cents of $1.99. If you want Pearl Jam's Ten for that price, you'll have a good chance of getting it probably. I hate to break it to some people too, but not all albums were even made for CD or digital. There are many albums out there you can't even get on MP3 or through iTunes. Yep, Reckless has them. Another thing Reckless does well is they carry new releases and do a good job of staying very current with it. Hell, they even carry new releases, reissues, etc for vinyl. The staff there seems fairly knowledgeable, although it's usually within a few genres per worker. I'm not going to complain, but sometimes Reckless has no idea what they have for sale. I picked up a live vinyl album once from a trio of guitarists in Near Mint condition for $1...Yep, could have sold it for $20-$30 easily online if it weren't for the fact it's a fantastic album. I hope you guys are taking some notes.... All in all, the place is awesome. 50% of the time there is music playing I've never even heard, which is pretty hard to do in itself. They have a MASSIVE selection of everything there, and although it's not perfect, it's pretty awesome if you love music. Seriously, go here if you love music and/or collect it. You will not be disappointed. read more

While the selection is good and it has a great location -the people who work here majorly blow. I have been in here a handful of times (keep trying to love it since it's right by my house) but I just can't. I'm not stupid, and I'm not asking for horrible god awful music like Jonas Brothers but the workers still make me feel like that idiot guy from High Fidelity who comes in looking for a ridiculous record for his daughter. Sorry Reckless, when I actually do BUY a cd, I'm be doing it online. With the extreme decline of people purchasing cds - I think they would be nicer to their customers, or at least try. read more

I'm a frequent visitor of the Milwaukee location, but what I really love about the broadway location is that there is a parking lot nearby. This location is a good size and I like the staff there as well. I will go back and forth between this and the Milwaukee location. I live in the suburbs, so I appreciate the parking lot. Finding parking in these areas can be frustrating. I highly recommend this record store. My favorite in Chicago. read more

Reckless Records - Reckless Records. Broadway location. - Vinyl Records Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not gonna lie, DVDs for $3, especially the cheesy chickflicks-sign me up! How can you go wrong? I mean, I guess people are illegally downloading movies anyways, so foot traffic might not be as good as it once was, but I don't think RR will suffer too much. Great location, huge store, really fits with the neighborhood. read more

Here's the thing. Reckless has a lot of good stuff but for some reason they seem to have funneled all the smarmy jerk offs into this one location. Shopping at their Milwaukee or Loop locations is a genuine pleasure, shopping at this location is a reminder that you'll never be as cool as some dude or chick who was this close to being Larry or Sally from Accounts Receivable with the Baby-in-a-flower-pot Calendar... only he/she turned left instead or right. They seem to be stuck up about the most random sh*t and the prevailing attitude seems to be that you're wasting their time... time they could better spend talking about some band no one will remember two weeks from now. If you can get to either of the other Reckless records stores you'll have a much nicer experience. Seriously. read more

This may be the greatest CD, record, DVD store ever! I asked my friend about shopping for some used CD's and he said he knew exactly where to go: Reckless Records. There are rows of CD sleeves, album covers and DVD cases. All categorized by numerous genres. Sure, all used CD stores do that. But Reckless Records does it better and cheaper than most. While we were there, a local artist was playing. He had about a dozen fans standing in the isles listening to him. Apparently this happens quite often. It's great to see the store supporting local artists. We didn't have much time so I only picked up a few discs. I could have easily spent hours of time and hundreds of dollars at this place. I can't wait to get back. read more

I've been to this location a couple of times now and every time I leave with more and more of a distaste for the employees who work there. The employees are ratty little punk rockers who I can only imagine think their music is the only real music. Me, I like all music and certainly appreciate anyone's business (money is money). Maybe this is the image the store is going for, after all if you've ever seen hi fidelity. Now for the positive, the store has a great selection of classic rock records. Surprisingly they even have a decent rap/hip hop selection too. I always leave with some new vinyl and enough satisfaction in my findings to come back. If you are into or looking to start up a vinyl collection you definitely have to come here but just be prepared for weird looks and lack of any type of enthusiasm from the employees. read more

Probably my favorite Reckless location in Chicago. Prices for jazz, world music, and classical LPs/CDs are unbeatable. Pop/rock music prices vary, but overall are pretty reasonable. I never walk out of this store empty handed. For selling your collection, these guys give the best prices from anywhere I've gone. read more

Couldn't knock Reckless if I tried. It's been around forever, the selection is excellent, the prices are solid and it's just weird enough... You won't leave empty handed If you're still into VHS definitely make sure to pay reckless a visit. It's truly a gem in that sense. Carve out some time if you wanna stop by here, there is definitely some digging to be done. The selection of both new and used vinyl is extensive and from my experience one is not necessarily better than the other. Although the other location isn't necessarily close by, if you don't find what you are looking for at this one you should check out the other reckless. IMHO, just as good. Parking can be a hassle in the area. You've been warned. Also, this is a great place to sell back both vinyl and CDs. read more

I had no idea this Reckless existed until I stumbled upon it while visiting a friend. It's much larger than the Wicker Park one I'm used to and has much more to offer. There is more music, far more dvds and a greater selection overall. "Indie Rock" is popular here and though I'm sure musicians like Sufjan Stevens and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will have disappeared in five years, they offer something for everyone. Good service too. Like the other Reckless, they will take your name and notify you when they get the record you've been looking for, a great convenience for those of us that don't have all day to search through music stores like we once had. read more

I could have spent hours here looking at records...yes i said records and all things movies and music. I guess you could compare it to Uncle Sams here in Miami so you all have an idea of what i am talking about. A wall full of movies in all formats like VHS, DVD, and blu ray i was only able to see just the blu rays. The best thing about it....they are used and cheap!!! Wohoo!!! For my first time being in Chicago i was happy to find this place and will return when i go back to chi town. I found some cook cds and picked up some blu rays so i didnt come home empty handed. It would be nice if we had more stores like these back here in MIami. Believe me...i love the whole digital thing and all..but nothing beats digging through cds and finding that one rare import or live in concert cd out there. It's like finding a diamond in the rough. read more

THE best used record store in Chicago. They have a tremendous selection of vinyl (thanks, Hipsters), CDs, cassettes, even an 8-track or two. They're also friendly (though hurried), and their online database is great for pre-hunting down a specific CD among their three or four stores. Their selection is pretty diverse, but the Classical and Country genres are sorely lacking. read more

I went in to Reckless on Broadway last night with a crate full of records to sell. I got there about 7:30 and the buyer was only supposed to be at work until 9:00, but he stayed until 9:30 working through my complicated instructions (I had three separate stacks: some I was selling regardless of their monetary yield, others I was selling for a friend, and others I was only selling for a certain price). The record buyer, Daniel, could not have been friendlier and more accomodating. It's not the type of service I have come to expect from record store staff, who oftentimes can appear brusque. I browsed the excellent selection of vinyl, left the store and came back, accepted store credit for a portion of the collection and took cash for another selection. The prices Daniel offered were reasonable and he took pains to examine the records and let me know if there was anything I might want to hang on to. This was my first time selling records and it was completely painless. Daniel did a great job. The other clerks were also friendly (with the exception of one gruff employee). The selection at this location is predominantly rock, soul, and jazz, but there are also decent collections of psych, prog, garage, electro, world, and reggae, as well as a substantial soundtrack selection. New vinyl is reasonably priced and the used vinyl is graded carefully and priced accordingly. I haven't browsed a CD rack in five years, so I can't comment on that, but their used DVD collection is reasonably priced and includes a large selection of Criterion editions. This store is a little smaller than the Milwaukee location but I prefer the location. Parking can be a little hairy so I recommend taking public transit (unless you have a giant crate of records to sell!). read more

Great staff that actually care about music and your experience. My favorite in Chicago. Very solid pricing, accurate grading scale. selection is amazing from genres to formats to the cheap bins. I've been going to these guys (same staff as when they were at Broadway location) for years and they've only gotten better in service and care. They have the best dvd and 45 selection of any Reckless location which is an added bonus. Highly recommended. read more

I love Reckless Records. This location has been open forever. I usually call in and special order used copies of discs. The nice thing about doing that is they call you and hold your discs for a week so you'll have time to get it at your convenience. This location does not have the selection their Wicker Park location has but I prefer coming to the Lincoln Park location since it's easy to get to using public trans. Their hours are great too, 10am - 10pm on most days. You can shop online as well and check availability on used merch. They'll also transfer items between stores for you. There's a lot of pluses to Reckless and they have listening stations for a lot of indie stuff. You can listen to 3 discs per visit which is very useful if you're unsure on purchasing a disc. They do pay cash for trade ins and you get more on credit. As they say, "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!" read more

Go for the used DVDs of movies and TV shows. You will find exactly what you are looking for and everything you didn't realize you needed. You can also check the stock online for all their locations and have whatever you need brought to your preferred one so you don't have to travel all over the city. I also love the window displays, they change frequently and always make me laugh. read more

I've popped in here a couple of times and walked out with stuff I didn't come in with (I paid, don't worry). I love music & movie stores like that: You know you could use something, but you're not sure what, so you poke around. I picked up Roxy Music on vinyl for a dollar and the Star Wars trilogy on VHS for $4, so no complaints there. Huge selection (huge). Prices are decent for a used place, not stellar, but reasonable. They charge a little more for used CDs than I feel like paying, but the used DVDs are priced well. I've never had an issue with the employees either. They've been nothing but polite to me. I don't give a shit what they're wearing. This will definitely continue to be a stop on my Lakeview walking tours with myself. read more

I travel a lot and consider Chicago to be a town to buy records in. Every time I'm here I carve out time to go to Jazz Mart, Dave's, etc. I try to mix it up and check out different stores. If I were only allowed to go to one record store in the country per year, this might be the place I'd choose. Case in point: I meant to come here and spend less than 30 minutes buying no more than 10 records. I spent 2 hours and bought 60 records! The good news is I dont need to do any more record shopping for the rest of the year (at least that's what I'll tell my wife!) They have the staples used at very reasonable prices, i.e. Classic Rock (CCR albums for $2-5), Ramones / Velvets / Stooges ($5-7). So if you want to build a vinyl collection that includes the music that hooked you in high school this is a good place to do it cost effectively. The Kraut / Psych section is very interesting - a bit pricier, but they put very intriguing and detailed descriptions on them that helps to navigate the selection - and stocked with new-ish psych bands like The Supposed as well as old staples like Neu! and fairly obscure bands like Hanuman. Great Indie selection as well, enough to satisfy any Pitchfork reader (and probably the writers if you could get them to admit it). They also have a very good jazz section - many stores have tons of rock or tons of jazz but I was quite impressed. Somebody beat me to the Bill Evans section but prices were very good for both Sun Ra reissues and old Mingus / Mobley records. DVDs? Check. 49 cent classical albums? Check. Bored introverted employees? Check. Basically everything you need for a good record shopping experience. As a side, this would be a great place to play "hipster bingo." The one caveat is that they don't ship when you buy at the store. There is a Fed Ex / Kinkos a few blocks away so keep that in mind if you want to load up and mail things home. read more

Reckless is a neighborhood staple that carries everything, from records to cassettes to CDs, from mainstream to obscure, from the biggest entertainers of all time to "dang, this person hasn't dropped a single since I was 7, what happened to him?" Pretty sweet prices, came across a Zapp and Roger record for 99 cents that made me want to pull my yellow Big Bird record player out of my grandmother's basement and jam. Reckless, may you never leave us.... Now that I got all the good points about Reckless out of the way, I have to ask, are there female employees at the store? Because I'm just not here for their male employees. First time I went in there, I walked up to the counter to ask a question and the two guys behind the counter didn't acknowledge my presence. I got someone's attention the second time, at least enough for him to answer my question in an apathetic, monotone voice, all while never making any sort of eye contact. I know some might say that's part of the "charm" of the shopping experience. If this was 1997 and we were in the movie "Empire Records," I might agree. But I much prefer someone to at least look at me as they're talking to me. It's okay... I won't blow your jaded hipster cover, I promise. Come for the music and don't expect much customer service. That's the best way to navigate Reckless. read more

When I recently revisited during the weekend of Lakeview East Art Fair, it reminded me how much this is still my fav location of Reckless. Selection is the best of all 3 locations, the aisles feel roomy and not too cramped, and I always forget how big the discount/clearance section is. All the other reviews cover the important facts about this one, so I won't make this too much longer. Amazing that I'm old enough to remember the first Broadway Ave location of where Reckless is(IIRC, across the entrance into the parking garage on the same side of the street, where Dryhop now is). I guess I'll see if this continues to be my fav location, or if the new Milwaukee Ave location will surpass it? So far I don't think it will(and only have visited the new Milwaukee Ave location once so far), but we'll see over time. read more

The 77th review won't tell you much that some of the other fantastic notes here haven't already covered. My highlights: -- fine reading selection, both professional and amateur. -- fantastic vinyl, of course. -- incredible variety, lots of older indie stuff. -- good local focus without coming off like they're pushing any particular scene. I haven't visited the new store, but the old one, while cramped, held an awful lot for its space. I don't mind a little jostling if it means more records to browse. read more

This particular Reckless Records location is my favorite (an conveniently located across the street from Intelligentsia). Since they moved into their new home down the street, it's less cramped and musty than previously and houses a bigger selection of media. Staff is friendly, helpful, and likes to chat if they like what you pick up. Their selection of used DVDS is awesome, there will always be one of those movies you've been meaning to see on their shelves. Moving on to my personal favorite, their selection of used vinyl is varied and vast. Plus, their entire catalog is online, so, if you happen to be on the hunt for something specific, just check their site and it will tell you if/which location it is in stock at. I managed to grab a pretty rare record out of here today on the cheap! Feels good to spend money on some new (for me) old (for someone) records. read more

So. Many. Records. I'm kind of glad I don't live in Chicago because I'd certainly be a regular at Reckless and would definitely spend more on physical music than I currently do! Excellent place to browse for new and used releases, helpful staff, and very fair prices for new and used records, CDs, and the ever present dollar bin. Winning all around! read more

I have been visiting this place just about weekly for a little over 7 months now...and I honestly have never bought a thing from them. I'm all about supporting my local music store, but CDs and DVDs are so passe....and their vinyl selection isn't the best (and new releases tend to be expensive compared to other indie shops). No, Reckless, I don't want to buy most of the Sub Pop albums that PItchfork Media is pushing --- so please step up your electo offerings! If anything, this Reckless destination is a good place to pick up some handbills and a Vice --- but the Milwaukee store is a lot cooler. read more

Came here on a lark and glad that I did. I make it a point to look for White Stripes vinyl any time I go to a record shop. Typically, I see their records go from anywhere between $22-30+ dollars, with 45s going for $10. Having said all that, I was elated to find Reckless selling their records for about 30-50% less than what I normally see. So cheap in fact I had to ask the counter guy if there was anything wrong with them or if they were used or of lower quality. He assured me they were none of those things. I bought two full albums (one of which a double vinyl) for $14.99 and $16.99. I also bought a 45 for just $4.99. Needless to say I was completely stoked and couldn't pass up the chance to purchase these records, even if it meant carrying them around Chicago and on the plane back to SFO. I'm giving them a 4 out of 5 because I cannot honestly speak to their selection or possession of obscure cuts, as I was there really to check for one thing. Good stuff! read more

This review is based on the Reckless I knew from the late 90's early 2000's. A great selection of vinyl. Picked up some random yet excellent dance 12". I've found some vinyl albums from hair metal bands and 80's pop compilations. My friend Matt L (Matt Positive) works here so I get hooked up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alas that would have been my review for the past. I haven't been there in a few years. The interweb has been my source of music. It's sad... I know. But being thet technology has killed off what was once my passion- DJing w/ vinyl, I've learned to embrace technology. I will not embrace going digital. HA!! Good luck finding street parking... read more

Over the last four years, this place has helped me bend and bow countless shelves with all of the wonderful used vinyl in their racks ("Dignity of Labour" by The (early) Human League! 2xLP gatefold promo of NIN's "Downward Spiral"! "Screaming Target" by Big Youth!) and I will be eternally grateful. I'll be moving to a new apartment within a block of this place within a couple of weeks and I'm already positive that's going to equal curtains for my wallet. Sure some of the employees are a bit snarky and rude but there are several who are helpful and friendly as well. Some are able to get over their egos better then others I suppose. One of my only complaints is the relatively slow turnover of reggae/dub/Jamaican music in general and certain sub genres of electronic music - but really when I'm finding re-issues of Can and The Silver Apples at decent prices, I can't gripe too hard. read more

I've been shopping year for years, usually,​ I'm looking for comedy, spoken word, and opera and they have some excellent finds here. Their dance music selection is not great. Gramophone​ is much better for dance. What Reckless refers to as dance music is generally depressing ambiance that seems to be what the depressing cashiers work here would probably consider upbeat. Speaking of which, the staff is why I have given this otherwise good record store only two stars. They're so unhappy and in the 15+ years I've been coming here, not ONCE has anyone asked if they can help me find something specific. Why are there so many people working here when all they do is stand behind the desk acting superior? Maybe the British company who owns Reckless doesn't know how poor the management is here on Broadway. read more

Support your local record shop! Sure, they've got the typical unkempt indie types running the place....but who cares. They're helpful when I have questions. I always find what I'm looking for. They keep it real.....gotta love that. read more

This is always a "must stop" when I am in the area (near my beloved Argo Tea). They have both used and new CDs. Used movies, and video games. They also carry vinyl. There is also a small selection of magazines and 'zines but be careful to look at your selections as that they are often times out of date. They could be a little more proactive in that department. I picked up the whole Airport series here. *Yay!! Cheesy Goodness!* as well as some OMGZORS!! "Indie" CD's here that I didn't feel like torrenting. Its worth a stop in just to browse. You never know what you might find. read more

Chicago is a big city, so it is rare that there is an establishment that gets my business on a regular basis other than say, Jewel Osco. Hubby and I go to Reckless at least once a week. It's his favorite thing to do in his free time. We usually stay for a minimum of a half hour, so I make sure we eat first (I'm not a good shopper when I'm hungry)! A typical visit to Reckless for us involves me browsing the cheap bin for CDs to use for my Spinning classes, Hubby checking out the CDs for any new releases, and both of us looking through the DVDs for classics that we LOVE but don't own (this weekend we got "E.T" and both "Bridget Jones" movies for about a total of $10). And if you have kids, or if you're young at heart, they have a great family movie section :) The staff is always friendly and I also love that you can check the website for something before you even stop in. and HELLO! They have one in the Loop, so I can get my fix any time I want, whether I'm working or playing! Here's to a great 4 years and hopefully many more read more